Pulp-agitator.



W. G. PATERSON. PULP AGITATOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 23. 1908.

Patented June 1,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

witmeoaea @Hoama W. G. PATERSON. PULP AGITATOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 23. 1908 Patented June 1, 1909.

2 BHEETS-SHEBT 2.

4 1 23 @7; z/w/ em a avt/w I w SHOW UNITED sTArns P ENT oFFroE.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL FATERSON, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE COLORADO.

KssIGNMEN'rs, TO THE A 11) (ramps EXJRAGTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PULP-AGITATOR.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM CAMPBELL PA'rERsoN, a subject of Great Britain, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pulp-Agitators and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for agitating pulp of any charac ter, although it is particularly adapted for use in the agitation of pulp composed of pulverized ore and the necessary solution for dissolving its metallic values; and, to be still more specific, the special object which I have in mind is the agitation of pulp formed from pulverizedore and a solution of cyanid of potassium, for the purpose of facilitating the dissolving of the metallic values through the action of the chemicals;

My object is, to thoroughly agitate the pulp, whereby the values to be dissolved are more advantageously subjected to the action of the dissolving chemicals, thus greatly shortening the time during which it is nec-. essary for the ore to remain in contact with the solution.

My improved construction includes a fun' nel-shaped tank occupying a vertical position and having a centrally disposed pi e oppn at its upper extremity to allow the pulp W ich is carried upwardly through the pipe, to overflow at its top and run back into'the tank. The lower extremity of the ipe communicates with the body of the tan r, whereby the pulp may be circulated from the bot tom of the tank. to the top, the 1pulp being ke t in continuous motion until t e'metallic va ues are thoroughly dissolved. Provision is made for decanting or removing the solution containing the metallic values, and also for the separate removal of the solid material which, after agitation is completed, is allowed to settle in the lower part of the tank. For the better agitation of thepul the upper part of the tank is provided wit a downwardly inclined riffled plate over which the pulp flows after being discharged from the upper extremitvof the centrally located around the pipe after it has pipe. At the top of this ipe is a disk, provided with a number of epressed run-ways through which the pulp flows to the outer portion of the tank, being dischar ed therefrom upon the outer edge of the ri ed plate, which is downwardly inclined from the outer wall of the tank, as heretofore indicated.

Having briefly outlined my im ,roved constructio-n,-l will proceed to descri e the same in detail, reference being made to the accom panying drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. a

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the tank of my improved structure, the pipe connections being for the most part shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tank. In this view the pipe connections are not illustrated. Fig. 3 is a section taken through the tank onthe line 3-3, Fig. 1, looking downwardly; the pipe connections not being illustrated, since their use has been-clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

tank, which as shown in, the drawing, is funnel-shaped, its upright part 6 being cylindrical in shape and its ower part 7, cone-shaped. The lower extremity of the tank is interiorly threaded, as shown at 8, and screwed upon the threaded art 9 of an elbow 10, which is provided wit 1 a vertical extension 12, into the up er extremity of which is threaded a vertica ly disposed pipe 13, centrally located in the tank. The upper extremity of the pipe :13 is attached to a disk 14 which, as shown in the drawing, is provided with a circular groove 15 wh ch immediately surrounds the up 1 extrennty of the pipe. From this circ ar groove, a number of radially disposed run-ways 16 lead outwardly and downwardly, terminating at the edge of the disk which is removed a short distance from the inner surface of the wall of the tank.

Located below the disk 14, is a plate 17 whose outer edge is secured to brackets 18 attached to the inner surface of the wall of the tank. From the outer edge of this plate, the latter is downwardly inclined, but cut away around the pipe 13, as shown at 19, to allow the pulp to discharge into the tank assed-downwardly over the plate. This p ate, as shown in the drawing, is provided with a series of circular riffles which are parallel the one with the other, the outer riffles being largest, and the other riflies diminishing in diameter as they extend downwardly. v

Connected with the exteriorly located extremity of the elbow 10, is a ipe 21. This pi e is provided with an e how 23 from wiich a branch 24 leads downwardly and communicates with a. supply pipe 25 provided with a valve 26. One extremity of the pipe 25 communicates with, a source of pulp, not shown, for supplying the tank; while the opposite extremity of this pipe communicates with a centrifugal pump 27, from which-a pipe 28 leads upwardly to a pipe 29 which passes through the extension 12 of the said elbow, terminating approximately at the lower extremity of the ipe 13. It

' will be understood that when t e pump 27 risen to the desired level.

is in motion, the 111 may be drawn through the pipe 25 and isc arged through the ipes 28 and 29 into the tank, being force upwardly through the ipe 13. The pipe 28 is rovided with a va ve 30.

onnected with the tank 5, as shown at 31, and just above its cone-shaped lower portion 7, is a pipe 32 having an elbow 33 and a downward extension 34 which communicates with the pipe 25, as shown at 35. The pipe 34 is provided with a valve 36, and also connected with a ipe 37 havinga valve 38. The function of this pipe 37 is to decant or remove the solution containing the dissolved metallic values after agitation is completed.

Connected with the pipe sections 24 is a horizontally disposed pipe 39 which communicates with the pipe 28, and is provided with a valve 42. e The pipe section 24 is provided with a valve 22 located therein between the pipe 39 and the supply pipe 25. A branch pipe 40 is in alinement with the pipe 39 and also in communication with the pipe 28. This pipe 40 is provided with a valve 41.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved mechanism will be readily understood. Assuming that the tank is empty, it will be first necessary to fill the same, and to this end thecentrifugal pump 27 is set in motion. In this event, the valves 36, 22, 42and 41 may be closed, while the valves 26' and 30 are left open. It must be assumed that the pipe 25 is in communication with a suitable source of pulp for supplying the tank 5. As the pump 27 is operated, this pulp is discharged through the pipe 29 andthe pipe 13, into the tank, until the latter is filled, or, until-the lpulp therein has his level preferably should be below the 'rifl 'led plate 17, in

agitation incident to the use of the machine,

- may flow unobstructed over the disk 14 and the riflfled plate 17.

Assuming now that the tank is fully charged, with pulp, the valve 26 is closed,

. I f l and the valve 36 opened. The pump 27 is now set in motion and the pulp is taken from the tank 5 through'the pipe sections 32, 33

and 34, and delivered to the pipe 25, whence jfinally discharged into the tank through the opening 19 around the pipe 13. The 'discharge at the mouth of the pipe 29 creates a partial vacuum which causes the pulp in the lower part of the tank to pass into the elbow extension 12 through openings 44 formed therein. In this manner the entire contents of the tank are circulated, whereby they are subjected to the necessary agitation, in order to dissolve the metallic values in the most thorough and rapid mannen.

By virtue of my improved construction, it becomes practicable to accomplish in a few hours, what would require possibly several days without agitation.

After the pulp has been thoroughly agitated and the metallic values dissolved, the

pump is stopped and the pulp allowed to settle in the tank, wherebyits solid portion accumulates in the lower conical portion of the same below the connection of the pipe 32 with the tank. After this occurs, the solution containing the dissolved metallic values,

and the valves 22 and 41 opened. It is assumed that the valve 42 is also closed'. Now,- the pump 27 is set in motion, and it acts to remove thet,soli d material from the lower.

part of the tank, and discharge the same through the pipe 28 to any desired location. In case the pipe composed of the elements 21, 2.3 and 24 should become stopped up with solid material, it may be cleaned out by pumping liquid from the tank through the pipe composed ,of the elements 32 and 34,

the pipe 25, the pipe sections 28 and 39, and

up through the, ipes 24, 23 and 21. In order to accomplis this, the valves 22, 38, 26,

30 and 41 are left closed, while the valves 36 and 42 are left open.

Attention is called to the fact that the weight of the pulp in the tank 5 supplements the suction or partial vacuum produced by the introduction of the liquid through the pipe 29 into the pipe 13, thus diminishing the power, which otherwise would be requircd to produce the circulation of the pulp within the tank.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination of an upright tank having a conical bottom, acentrally disposed having a conical bottom, a centra ly disposed pipe located in the said tank, its lower portion being in communication with the tank, an inlet pipe projecting upwardly through the bottom of the tank and entering the centrally located pipe. above the openin in its lower portion, a pump for delivering uid to the tank through the inlet pipe and the centrally located pipe, a pulp su ply pipe connected withthe pump, a-va ve controlled branch pipe communicating at one extremity with the centrally located pipe and at the opposite extremity with the pulp supply pipe, and a second valve-controlled branch pipe connecting the first named branch pi e with the inlet pipe, substantially as descri ed.

3. The combination of an u right tank having a conical bottom, a centra ly disposed ipe located in the said tank, its lower portion eing in communication with the tank, an inlet pipe rojecting upwardly through the bottom of t e tank and entering the centrally located i e, aul su 1y i efordelivering fluid to Elie tarik lihroiigh t 1 inlet pipe and the centrally located pipe, and a valve-controlled branch extremity with t e centrally located pipe and at its opposite extremity with the pulp supply pipe, substantially as described.

4. The combination of an upright tank having a conical bottom, a centrally disposed ipe located in the said tank, its-lower portion emg in communication with the tank, an

ipe communicating at one inlet pipe projecting upwardly through the bottom of the tank and entering the centrally located pipe, means for delivering fluid to the tank through the inlet pipe and the centrally located pipe, a valve-controlled pulp supply pipe connected with the said fluid delivery means, and a valve-controlled branch pipe communicating at one extremity with the centrally located pipe and at the opposite extremity with the pulp supply pipe, substantially as described.

5. The combination of an u right tank having a conical bottom, a centra 1y dis osed pipe being located in the said tank, its ower portion being in communication with the tank, a valve-controlled inlet pipe projecting upwardly through the bottom of the tank and entering the centrally located pipe, a 1

pump for delivering fluid to the tank through the inlet pipe and the centrally located pipe, a valve-controlled pulp supply pipe connected with the pump, and a valve controlled branch pipe communicating at one extremity with the centrally located pipe, and at the opposite extremity with the pulp supply pipe, a second valve-controlled branch pipe connecting the first named branch pipe with the inlet pipe, and a third valve controlled branch pipe also communicating with the inlet pipe for the discharge of the solid material from the tank, substantially as described.

6. A'pulp agitator comprising a tank, having a centrally locatedpipe whose lower portion is in communication withthe tank, the upper extremity of the pipe being open, means connected with the up er extremity of the pipe for carrying the discharge from the pipe outwardly toward the wall of the tank, an oppositely inclined riflied plate located below the said meansand adapted to receive the ulp discharged from the latter, the rifiied p ate being open around the pipe to allow the pulp to return to the tank, and means for passing fluid into the tank upwardly through the centrally'located pipe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL PATERSON. 

